Monday, January 4, 2010

Starbreaker by Viola Grace

With an asteroid heading to Morganti, Kale volunteers to retrieve the Star Breaker, a weapon that has the ability to shatter anything in it's way. When he takes possession he feels a familiar presence, a star's Avatar is trapped within the sphere. Carella has been waiting for her freedom, and when her sphere collides with the asteroid, she is naked, free, and in the mood to blow something up. Kale is struck by her beauty and power, and she wants nothing more than a comforting touch after her violent venting. Upon returning to Morganti they find out who she is, but not why her memory has been wiped. Together, they may find a few answers to questions they had never even imagined asking, including How could a Terran who disappeared two years earlier have spent the last four hundred years as the Star Breaker?

Morganti, the home planet for the Sector Guard, is in danger of being destroyed. A large asteroid is heading straight for it, and the Sector Guard is evacuating the planet, just in case there is no way to stop it. The only hope is to find the Starbreaker, a weapon capable of destroying the asteroid. The planet’s avatar, Kale, heads out to find the Starbreaker, and finds it in the possession of the W’Chan, who have used it for over four hundred years to protect their mining colony from attack. When Kale-Gant gets there he realizes that inside of the sphere known as Starbreaker is the avatar of a star, and it is this that gives the Starbreaker her power.

This avatar is Carella, and she finds herself free after saving Morganti from not one, but two massive asteroids. Can Carella and Kale-Gant find a way to explore the attraction growing between them? Can the Sector Guard scientists find a way to explain how a four hundred year old weapon is also a Terran woman who went missing just two years ago? What are the answers, and how will they affect Kale-Gant and Carella and the future of Sector Guard?

This is the final story in the first arc of the Sector Guard tales. It is a story of warmth and passion. The mystery that is Carella is a complex one, with time travel and romance combined. Kale is the very last of his people, and he finds himself attracted to Carella, and the feeling is mutual.

This is a story of sweet and poignant new love, not hot and steamy, but warm and passionate nonetheless. Meeting Carella gives Kale the first hope for his future, a future he wants to share with her. She is a unique being, with almost limitless power, and is the first being able to physically touch Kale and not have his affliction harm her. I love the way Viola Grace creates such memorable characters, with true depth and emotion and lots of humor. Do Kale and Carella have a happy ever after? It is too soon to tell, and we will learn more of both of them in future tales. But they do get a wonderful happy for now, with the promise of so much more to come.

RATING EXPLANATION:

1 Star— At this time, we at LASR do not post these reviews. If the book was boring, badly edited, poorly written, had little or no plot, stilted dialogue, and/or unsympathetic characters, we will decline the review.

2 Stars— Not wonderful, but tolerable. There may be some minor editing glitches but not enough to stop you reading. Not a wall-banger, but nothing you'd re-read. This is a book you would borrow from the library - not buy - and never check out again.

3 Stars— Good. Mostly enjoyable. You made it through and didn't consider it a waste of time or money. The story was strong enough or the conflict tight enough, so even when the book faltered, it was able to draw you back in and keep you. There's a chance you'll recommend it to a friend, but it wouldn't go on your keeper shelf.

4 Stars— Very Good. You're glad you were the one who got to review the book. You would probably buy it and would definitely recommend it to your friends. You liked the characters and the plot. The writing style was good and the editing clean.

5 Stars— Great! You would definitely buy this book. You would definitely recommend it to your friends. You really loved the characters and the plot and would consider looking for this authors back list or making her an autobuy. The writing and editing were superb.

LASR Best Book - For a book or story that is truly exceptional. You think about it when you're not reading it. You wonder what happens to the characters when you finish. You would absolutely buy everything else this author had to offer. The highest praise - and reserved for only a few.

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